Tik Maynard
NF+ INSTRUCTOR
Build a Thinking Horse. Become a Confident Rider.
Tik Maynard blends natural horsemanship, competitive riding, and modern horse psychology to help you build a horse that thinks—not just one that tolerates. Whether you're managing a sensitive partner, tackling groundwork, or chasing success in the ring, Tik’s training meets you where you are and grows with you. His accessible, adaptable methods give you the tools to solve real-world challenges, strengthen your connection, and confidently train through anything—from trailer loading to top-level performance.
Train with TikMeet Tik
Tik Maynard is a two-time Road to the Horse Champion—one of the world’s premier colt starting competitions—as well as a horse behavior expert, trainer, clinician, best-selling author, and international competitor. Raised in the show jumping world, Tik later won a National Championship in Modern Pentathlon and competed twice at the World Championships. His flexible, horse-first approach blends psychology, groundwork, and high-performance training to help riders build adaptable, confident horses—and lasting partnerships that thrive in and out of the arena.
“I ran into some issues with my young horse and even considered selling him until I found a trainer who took their time like Tik advocates, and 9 months later we were making true progress!”
“I very much appreciate the emphasis on slow, sequential learning. My current OTTB is taking a long time to produce, but I know it will be worth it.”
“Tik has opened my eyes to a new way of interacting with my horses. Now, I’m much more mindful of every interaction with my horse, and always try to see things from his point of view.”
What You’ll Learn with Tik
Learn What Motivates
Understand what motivates your horse to do something
Identify Root Causes
Identify root causes and patterns of your horses’ behaviors
Read Your Horse
Read your horses’ anxiety level to help them cope with stress
Put Your Horse At Ease
Make your horse comfortable and focused in new situations
Watch Tik’s Courses
There are 10 masterclasses ready to roll (and Tik’s adding more).
Because horses don’t come with an instruction manual—but this is pretty close.
Introducing Play With Your Horse
Play is not work - Play is something we choose to do. Learn from Tik Maynard why play is important and how to foster a sense of play with your horse.
Understanding Horse Behaviour
Tik Maynard teaches a new 10-part course all about how your horse thinks, feels, and learns - and WHY he reacts (or doesn’t!) to training in the way that he does.
Training The Spooky Or Anxious Horse
Turn your horse into a calm, confident partner. Tik Maynard is here to teach you in his new 12-part Masterclass, “Training the Spooky or Anxious Horse.
Training The Young Horse
In this 14-part masterclass, you’ll learn the same training program Tik uses to develop his young horses into confident, responsive, and dependable partners.
The Four Building Blocks of Better Horsemanship
In "The Four Building Blocks of Better Horsemanship" with Tik Maynard, unlock the secrets to building a deeper, more harmonious connection with your horse.
Watch or Listen Anywhere
Stream Tik’s Courses on any of your devices, wherever you are.
No Stupid Questions with Tik Maynard, Live from Equine Affaire
This special bonus episode of Dear Horse World brings you all the energy and insight of a live event! Recorded straight from the buzzing NF+ booth at Equine Affaire in Springfield, Massachusetts, we dive into real-life horse questions from our amazing NF+ members.
The goal? To prove that when it comes to our equine partners, there’s no such thing as a stupid question—only steps toward stronger connections and better understanding.
What to Expect
This isn’t your typical Q&A session. It’s a mix of practical advice, eye-opening insights, and relatable stories that’ll make you laugh, nod, and maybe even say, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
Here’s a taste:
Lunging Like a Pro: Struggling with a counter-bending horse? We share how to combine physical technique and mental connection to help your horse find balance and relaxation.
Turning Pushy into Playful: Got a horse that’s a little extra? Learn how to channel that playful energy into productive, positive behavior (and still have fun).
Patience for the Spirited Horse: Animated and impatient horses can learn patience—and we show you how, one step at a time.
Rehabbing with a Topline: Keep your horse’s muscle and topline in check during rehab with simple, biomechanics-focused exercises.
No More Trailer Loading Drama: Say goodbye to the struggle with a step-by-step approach that builds trust and confidence.
Calm in Chaos: Help your horse stay focused and connected in new environments through gradual exposure and consistent positive reinforcement.
Why You’ll Love It
This episode blends casual, upbeat vibes with super-informative takeaways. Whether you’re tackling a tricky training challenge or just looking to deepen your connection with your horse, this conversation hits all the right notes. We’re diving beyond the surface to talk about the “why” behind horse behavior, training techniques, and the importance of understanding your horse’s unique needs.
Hit Play Now: Tune in to learn, laugh, and get inspired. Because in the world of horses, curiosity doesn’t just lead to answers—it leads to better partnerships. Let’s grow together, one question at a time.
Natural Horsemanship, Meet Practical Rider
When we learn to ride as children or as adults, we learn to do just that: ride. But when do we learn how to understand our horse’s behavior? Why he does what he does? How he views the world and what we’re asking of him?
After all, wouldn’t that make riding a heck of a lot easier?
Host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Tik Maynard, who has made a career out of marrying competitive riding with groundwork as an avenue to gaining a deeper understanding about the inner workings of the horse’s mind. It has made him more successful (even with the most complicated horses), more patient, and most of all, more fulfilled in his work.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why groundwork is the key to gaining a deeper understanding for your horse, which will help greatly in your ridden training.
Why this isn’t included in the standard curriculum for riders.
How you can apply this to your own program without dedicating an overwhelming amount of time to it.
Lots more... it’s a deep dive episode!
Watch/Listen On
Addressing the Troubling Scenes During Modern Pentathlon at the Tokyo Olympics
When we learn to ride as children or as adults, we learn to do just that: ride. But when do we learn how to understand our horse’s behavior? Why he does what he does? How he views the world and what we’re asking of him?
After all, wouldn’t that make riding a heck of a lot easier?
Host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Tik Maynard, who has made a career out of marrying competitive riding with groundwork as an avenue to gaining a deeper understanding about the inner workings of the horse’s mind. It has made him more successful (even with the most complicated horses), more patient, and most of all, more fulfilled in his work.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why groundwork is the key to gaining a deeper understanding for your horse, which will help greatly in your ridden training.
Why this isn’t included in the standard curriculum for riders.
How you can apply this to your own program without dedicating an overwhelming amount of time to it.
Lots more... it’s a deep dive episode!
Why Play Is Key for Building "Try" in Your Horse, and How to Do It with Tik Maynard
When we learn to ride as children or as adults, we learn to do just that: ride. But when do we learn how to understand our horse’s behavior? Why he does what he does? How he views the world and what we’re asking of him?
After all, wouldn’t that make riding a heck of a lot easier?
Host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Tik Maynard, who has made a career out of marrying competitive riding with groundwork as an avenue to gaining a deeper understanding about the inner workings of the horse’s mind. It has made him more successful (even with the most complicated horses), more patient, and most of all, more fulfilled in his work.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why groundwork is the key to gaining a deeper understanding for your horse, which will help greatly in your ridden training.
Why this isn’t included in the standard curriculum for riders.
How you can apply this to your own program without dedicating an overwhelming amount of time to it.
Lots more... it’s a deep dive episode!
What's Changing with Modern Penatathlon Since the Tokyo Debacle?
When we learn to ride as children or as adults, we learn to do just that: ride. But when do we learn how to understand our horse’s behavior? Why he does what he does? How he views the world and what we’re asking of him?
After all, wouldn’t that make riding a heck of a lot easier?
Host Caroline Culbertson sits down with Tik Maynard, who has made a career out of marrying competitive riding with groundwork as an avenue to gaining a deeper understanding about the inner workings of the horse’s mind. It has made him more successful (even with the most complicated horses), more patient, and most of all, more fulfilled in his work.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why groundwork is the key to gaining a deeper understanding for your horse, which will help greatly in your ridden training.
Why this isn’t included in the standard curriculum for riders.
How you can apply this to your own program without dedicating an overwhelming amount of time to it.
Lots more... it’s a deep dive episode!
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